Strongman Bernie lifts world title!

Bernie McGurk is just a few weeks shy of his 50th but that didn’t stop him taking the World Masters Powerlifting Championship title in Mongolia this month.

The officer competed for Great Britain at the competition and came out top in his age category and body weight when he lifted 280kg.

Bernie also had the same success at the British Master Championship in Belfast last weekend and even broke some records.

He told the Press: “I was a professional sprinter for 20 years but in my early 30s I had to give it up due to injury.

“I always knew about a British Police Powerlifting Championship so I decided to compete and, without much training, I broke some records.

“I got an excitement for the sport and, 10 years later, I still love it.”

Bernie is the chairman of Scottish Powerlifting which has seen huge growth in membership over recent years.

But the sport hasn’t just given him some titles over the years, he also credits the help it’s given him to get through some extremely difficult circumstances in his life.

In 2015, Bernie lost his daughter, Hayley, aged just 20.

Hayley had suffered from epilepsy for several years and died suddenly.
Hayley, who was also very sporty, won many awards at Lochgelly High School, especially for her prowess in netball, and she became a very good sprinter, running on the Highland Games circuit.

“The sport has been a massive help to me,” Bernie added.

“I also had surgery on my shoulder two years ago and I didn’t think I would be able to get back, so I just trained and trained.

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